The Knowledge to Decide

China is set to open a government-sponsored ‘cloning park’ in early 2016, with a goal to produce 100,000 cloned cattle annually. This is because Chinese farmers are not able to meet market demand for beef cattle. Clones ensure a reliable and regular supply. Interestingly, a report highlights the average calorie intake of a person has increased from 1,863 to 3,074 calories – with a major chunk coming from animal calories. China’s meat demand coincides with a tax recommended by U.K. researchers on meat to deal with rising demand along with health and environmental issues that are synonymous with meat consumption and production. Will cloned meat be able to meet rising market demand? https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/china-opts-for-cloned-cow-meat/

Healthy eating has emerged as something of a luxury in emerging markets. In contrast, the cost of junk food continues to decrease; encouraging consumers to binge more. According to a recent study, the cost of fruits and vegetables rose by 91% in the last two decades. The cost of processed foods instead fell by a fifth in emerging markets such as Brazil, China, South Korea and Mexico from 1990 to 2012. Lower prices encourage consumers to adopt unhealthy eating habits. Hence, obesity has become the new face of poverty. Conditions such as blood sugar spikes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure as well as bloating are some of the health conditions that result from an unhealthy diet. Is the solution increased subsidies for fresh fruit and vegetables financed by a tax on junk food? https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/healthy-eating-getting-more-expensive-junk-food-getting-cheaper/

Wearable technology may be quietly engineering a revolution in our lives. The full commercialization of wearable technology may liberate people from being tied to the home or office, increasing the importance of public spaces. And the merging of electronics with apparel promises to revolutionize the apparel industry in the same way that electronics revolutionized the automotive industry – up to one third of the value of a car now resides in the electronics. From Google Glasses and Apple’s iWatch to medical tracking devices, wearable technology is now within reach. How will it transform our lives? Market watchers have projected wearable technology to generate USD4.6 billion in revenue by the end of 2013. Approximately 10 million smart glasses are predicted to be available in the market by 2016, growing by 250 percent on average each year. Smart watches would also come into their own as a significant, high-growth market. Without a doubt, wearable tech will see massive, early-sta

A new germ-zapping robot manufactured by Xenex in the U.S. could emerge as a saviour against deadly viruses like Ebola. It uses pulses of high-intensity, high-energy ultra-violet rays to crack bacterial cell walls and kill virus-afflicting pathogens. It has been successfully tested on 22 different microorganisms – destroying viruses similar to Ebola. Standing at 5 feet and bearing the nickname “Saul”, the ultra-violet rays it emits are 25,000 times brighter than fluorescent lights and can kill pathogens that are generally missed by the naked eye. A few surgical teams in the United States have been trained to use this technology on Ebola patients. According to research, hospitals with access to this technology have been able to bring down general infection rates by 60%. It is already being used in 250 hospitals. Can such technology breakthroughs arrest global pandemics in the 21st century? https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/zapping-away-viruses/

West Africa’s Ebola outbreak is the largest in history, ravaging multiple countries. A glimmer of hope has emerged in the form of the experimental vaccines that are being rushed to the affected areas. Can the virus be contained and if so how? Leon Perera, Chief Executive Officer of Spire Research and Consulting, shared his views in The Business Times – Views from the Top on what Asia should be doing to maximize Ebola-preparedness. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 13,268 Ebola cases have been reported in eight countries, resulting in 4,960 deaths so far. Perera commented that Ebola has so far gripped three West African countries namely Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Needless to say, the inter-country transport links for these countries are developed to such an extent that they help spread the virus. But these countries still lack healthcare systems to cope with an epidemic like this. At the same time, Ebola – unlike Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

Obesity is a growing threat to quality of life, healthcare systems and economies across Asia. Leon Perera, Chief Executive Officer of Spire Research and Consulting, shared his thoughts on the implications of rising obesity levels in Asia in China Daily – Asia Weekly. According to a study by Cornell University in 2012, the U.S. spent USD190 billion a year on obesity-related healthcare. An epidemic long thought to affect only the western world has gradually crept onto Asian shores. Traditional food products are now being replaced by processed  foods and fast foods  in many parts of Asia. Perera commented that obesity is strongly linked to ailments such as Type 2 diabetes and other chronic conditions. Obesity has also been linked to a rise in absenteeism and medical insurance costs. Though the impact of obesity on Asia’s healthcare expenditures is currently lower than it is in the U.S., it is on the rise. Urbanization has driven the consumption of sugary and fatty foods and

Leon Perera, Chief Executive Officer of Spire Research and Consulting, was invited to share his views on sugar consumption trends on Channel NewsAsia – Money Mind. He observed that sugar consumption in Singapore will decline in the long term, akin to what has been seen in North America and Europe, thanks to rising health literacy and government health campaigns. Natural sweetener producers would need to work hard to find their niche in terms of taste, pricing and a fact-based health message. Sugar is now into its 4th year of global surplus production, primarily thanks to Brazil, Thailand and India. This has exerted downward pressure on prices. Sugar consumption is foreseen to grow below the growth rate of the global population in the next 5 to 10 years. High intensity natural sweetener is now a niche market that faces good growth prospects. However, there are regulatory hurdles facing the industry. What’s more, there is a lot to be done in educating and convincing consumers t

The recent spate of health scandals is encouraging Asian consumers to turn to natural, organic and herbal remedies in health and beauty. In 2013, 90% of urban female consumers in China preferred products made with natural ingredients. Furthermore, they are placing more trust in local products, due to the familiarity of Asian philosophies linked with balance and harmony. Greater awareness of environmental and  food -borne toxins is also prompting Asian consumers to turn to natural and traditional health & wellness remedies. For instance in 2013, cosmetics brand Sulwhasoo launched a series of products in Malaysia that were formulated according to Korean philosophies of Sangseng; aimed at promoting harmony between body and mind. Are Asian consumers going back to the past and driving a niche market in wellness herbal remedies? https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/asian-consumers-are-turning-back-to-natural-and-ancient-ingredients/